LETTERS: CHANGING POLITICS IN SE MISSOURI

To the editor:

The winds of time and change blow softly but surely, and politics is no exception, as state Rep. Gene Copeland ends his political career after serving 38 years in the Missouri Legislature at the end of this session. The winds of change also have blown on Southeast Missouri politics. In what was a solidly Democrat-controlled area, the winds began to blow in 1980 with the election of Bill Emerson to Congress. More change saw the Missouri Hose seats go to Republicans in Districts 154, 155, 156, 157 and 158. Even the traditionally strong Democratic District 162 of Pemiscott County went to an independent candidate, and the Senate's District 27 went to the Republicans. The 1996 election saw many strong Democrats of Southeast Missouri like District 161 that Copeland represents narrowly defeat Republican challengers who were little known in the districts.

Ironically, the losses to the Democratic Party have been self-inflicted. More and more Southeast Missouri Democrats who dearly love their party find they can no longer support a party that has so departed from the values that Missourians hold so dear. They find their beloved Democratic Party taken over by eastern liberals and holdover hippies from the '60s. Even in Jefferson City, Democrats find their leadership embracing the liberal ideology.

Copeland said he was "about burned out" and "didn't enjoy it like I used to." Perhaps and old country boy finds it less and less enjoyable to support a party that advocates abortion on demand, even the infanticide called partial-birth abortion, and homosexuality as normalcy or the seizure of control of our schools by big government.

One vote I will always respect and appreciate Copeland for was his vote against Mel Carnahan's Outstanding Schools Act of 1993, which began the implementation of transformational outcome-based education on our children and seized control of our local school and curriculum. I hope Copeland will stand up against Carnahan one more time in this session by voting to stop partial-birth abortion.

It's a bit premature, but to Copeland we offer the closing line of the show of an American we all loved: "Good night, and God bless."

RAY ROWLAND

Dexter